Berry-basket machine.



E. CRAIG.

BERRYBASKET MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20, 1909.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. CRAIG.

BERRY BASKET MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED DEC-20, 1909.

1,135,667, Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Un TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CRAIG, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T SARANAC MACHINE 00., OF

I ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

BERRY-BASKET MACHINE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed December 20, 1909. Serial No. 534,106;

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EDWARD CRAIG, a citlzen' of the United States of America, and

resident of St. Joseph, Berrien county, Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Berry-Basket Machines, of vwhich the following is a specification.

My invention contemplates a machine for making berry baskets or other similar articles, comprising a pair of rotary forms mounted upon the upper end of a swinging member, whereby said forms may be presented one at a time to the stapling mecl1anism above, and means for automatically rotating the said forms to bring the different sides of the baskets into position to receive the staples, the attendant being free to load one form while the stapler is operating on the other, thus saving time and increasing the speed'of production of said baskets, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawmgs-Figure l is a front elevation of a berry basket machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on line 33 in Fig. 1.

As thus illustrated, my inven .on comprises an upright pedestal A provided with a base a adapted to rest upon the floor. A horizontal shaft (1 is disposed at the bottom of the said pedestal, and providcl with a clutch o of any suitable character, which automatically stops the machine upon the completion of a basket. A foot "lever a is used for starting the machine.

The stapler B is of any suitable character, and is connected with the said shaft a", whereby rotation of the latter operates the stapler. As staplers are well known, further description thereof is unnecessary.

The member C is pivoted at its lower end to the pedestal at c, and its back and forth 'movement about a horizontal axis is limited by the stops 0' at each side thereof, which y stops are on the pedestal. The spring pressed handle 0 reciprocates through an opening in the member C, at a desirable distance above the axis 0, and has a locking end portion 0 adapted to engage the sockets c in the pedestal, where y the member C can be locked in either on of its two operative positions.

The basket forms D are rotatably mounted on the upper end of the member C, a suitable distance apart, whereby each form has rotary motion about a horizontal axis. These forms are square, as shown, to give the berry basket the usual and well known shape. Each form has an axis d, about which it rotates, and a set of feed teeth 0!, there being four of these teeth, one for each side of the form, as here shown.

The stapler head I), which moves up and down by reason of its connection 6' with the shaft a, has a hook b which is pivoted at its upper end, and which is adapted to engage the teeth d to rotate the forms. It will be seen that a spring 6 serves to yieldingly hold the hook against the stop I) on the stapler head. When the head 5 moves downward, the spring 6 yields and allows the hook to swing outward, the lower end of the hook being pushed outward by the tooth b on the form. This hook engages a tooth (1' each time the head 6 moves up, and thus gives the form a quarter rotation each time the stapler is retracted after driving one or more staples, it being observed that each form has four of these teeth. This continues until all four sides of the form have been now in position to receive the staples. Thus one form is loaded while the other is being operated upon.

The spring controlled members F are pivoted on the member C and bear yieldinglv against the sides of the forms, permitting the latter to rotate, but serving to hold each form squarely in position below the stapler.

For the broader purposesof mv invention I do not limit mvself to the exact construction shown and described.

With further reference to the arrangement of the forms B as close together as possible at the top or upper end of the swinging member C, it will be seen that the stops 0' hold the forms in position against the force of gravitythat is to say, in opposition to then the form at the left is in position to cooperate; with the stapler, and the form at the right tends togravitate outward and downward, but is prevented from so doing by the stop 0 at the right. It follows, therefore, that each form has an idle position which is never occupied by the other form, but the operatin positions of the two forms are identical. %his is for the reason that the axes d of the two forms must always be directly beneath the stapler to permit the latter to drive the staples, whereby the two axes of the forms alternate in occupyin this exact position. The idle positions 0 the two forms are at opposite sides of this operating position, and neither form ever occupies the idle or loading position of the other. When a basket is completed on one of the forms, the operator then swings the member C; over to the other side, where it is held by gravity and then locked by the previously described locking mechanism. Lhe axis 0 is on a vertical line drawn throughthe staple driver and the axis d of the form which is in operation, so that the thrust or pressure of the stapler is directly on the center, so to speak, and does not tend to shift the member.C out of position. The two forms are, as shown, preferably arranged adjacent each other, and as close as possible without interfering with each other, whereby the amount of shift necessary to bring the forms into operating position is reduced practically to a minimum.

With further reference to the hook or ratchet pawl b it will be seen that this is pivoted at its upper end in such manner that it swings about a horizontal axis 6 which is parallel with the axes of the two forms, and which is also parallel with the axis a at the bottom of the swinging member. Thus the axes of operation of the forms and the rotating mechanism therefor are all horizontal and parallel. The axes b and d are shifting axes, whereas the axis a. is .fixed and does not shift from one point toanother.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine of the class disclosed, a plurality of forms, a pivoted member upon which said forms are mounted, means for limiting the swing of said member. by enga ement therewith, to determine the extent of% ack and forth movement of said forms,

top of said pedestal, operated by said shaft,

an upright member pivoted at its lower end upon sald pedestal, to swing back and forth at its upper end about a horizontally disposed axis at its lower end, means for limiting the swing of said member in both directions, a pair of rotary forms on the upper end 0 said member, each form rotatable about a horizontally disposed axis, and means operating upon the up-stroke of the said mechanism to rotate the form which is at such time in position for rotation.

3. In a machine of the class disclosed, a plurality of forms, means for moving the forms bodily, about a horizontal axis, means for limiting said movement of the forms, means for automatically rotating the forms, one at a time, the said forms all having the same rotating position, but the idle position of the forms being different, and vertically reciprocating means for applyin fastening devices to the materials on said orms, said means for rotating the forms consisting of teeth rigid with the forms and a reciprocating hook for engaging said teeth.

4. In a machine of the class disclosed, a

plurality of forms, means for swinging said forms back and forth about a horizontal axis, the said forms all having the same rotating osition, but the idle position of the forms eing different, mechanism for locking the forms against bodily movement, engaging said means, other means for automatically rotatin said forms, one at a time, and mechanism a ove said forms for inserting fastening devices in the materials thereon, said means for rotating the forms consisting of teeth rigid with the forms and a reciprocating hook for engaging said teeth.

5. In a machine of the class disclosed, a pair of forms, a swinging member upon the upper end of which said forms are mounted for rotation about horizontally disposed axes, said member mounted to swing about a horizontal axis, the said forms all having the same rotating position, but the idle position of the forms being different, a stapling mechanism to which said forms are presented one at a time, by movement of teeth.

6. In' a machine of'the class disclosed, a

1 plurality offorms, a pivoted member upon which said forms are mounted, means for limiting the swing of'said member, to determine the extent of back and forth movement of said forms, and to hold the forms in operative position, the said forms all having the same'rotating position, but the idle position'of the forms being different, means for rotating the forms one at a time, about axes approximately parallel with the axis of said member, and mechanism operating-at an angle to said axes for'inserting fastening devices in the materials on the forms, said means for rotating the forms consisting of teeth rigid with the forms and a reciprocating hook for engaging said teeth.

'7.In a machine of the'class disclosed, a

' plurality of forms, means formoving the which said forms are-mounted, means forforms bodily, about a horizontally disposed axis, means for automatically rotating the forms, one at a time, vertically reciprocating means for applying fastening devices to the materials on said-forms, and spring held devices bearing against the under sides of said forms, to yieldingly hold the same in proper position, and pivoted on said first mentioned means, whereby each said device has a shifting axis of operation.

8. In a machine of the class disclosed, a plurality of forms, means for swinging said forms back and forth about a horizontally disposed axis, means for automatically rotating said forms, one at'a time, and mechanism above said forms-for inserting fastening devices in the materials thereon, and spring held devices bearing against the under sides of'said'form s to yieldingly hold.

the same in proper position, said devices extending toward each other.

9. In a machine of the class disclosed, a pair of forms, a swinging member upon the upper end of which said forms are mounted for rotation about horizontally disposed axes, said member mounted to swing about.

a horizontal axis, a stapling mechanism to which said forms are presented one at a time, by movementof said member, means operatedby the back stroke of said mechanism to rotate the forms, and spring held devices bearing against the under sides of said forms to proper position. I I 10. In a machine of the class disclosed, a plurality of forms, apivoted'member upon limiting the swing. of said member, to determine the extent of back and forth movement of said forms, means for'rotating the forms one at a time, about axes approximately par- 'allel with the axis of said member, mechanism operating at an angle to said axes for inserting fastening devicesin the materials on the forms, and spring held devices bearing against the sides of said forms,to yieldyieldingly .holdthe same in,

ingly hold the same in proper position, said device being pivoted on said member, said devices extending toward each other, and said forms being arranged adjacent each other.

11. In a machine of the class desclosed,'an

upright pedestal,-a horizontal shaft at the bottom thereof, a stapling mechanism at the top of said pedestaLoperated by said shaft, a

an upright member pivoted at its lower end upon said pedestal, to swing back and forth at its upper end about a horizontal axis at its lower end, means .for limiting the axis at, its lower end, means for limiting the swing of said member in both directions, a pair ofrotary forms on the'upper end of said member, each form rotatable about "a horizontal axis, and meansoperating' upon the up-stroke of the said mechanism to rotate the form which is at such time in position for rotation, and spring held devices pivoted on said member and bearing against the sides of said forms to yieldingly hold.

the same in properposition.

12. In a machine of the class disclosed, a

plurality of forms, means for moving the form bodily, about a horizontally disposed axis, meansfor automatically rotating the forms, one at a time, ve'rtically reciprocating upper end of which said. forms are mounted for rotation about horizontally disposed axes, said member mounted1t6 swing about a horizontal axis, a stapling mechanism to I which .said forms are presented one at a time, by movement of said member, means operated by the back stroke of said mech-- anism to rotate the forms, and meanssirie eluding a spring controlled handle for-,locking the said forms in different positions, said handle being endwise movable to lock and unlock the forms.

14. In a machine of theclass disclosed, a pluniility of rotary forms disposed a fixed bodily, and means for rotating said forms one at a time, each form having an idle posi tion which is never occupied bythe other 'cupying exactly the same position.

Ina machine of the class-disclosed,- a

plurality of rotary-forms disposed a fixed distance apart, means for moving said forms ;form the axes of the. forms alternately oc- .exactly'the same position, and stops for at a time, each form hump?1 tion which '15 never occupie lrolding'the forms in position againstthe gravitating tendency thereof.

, 163111 a machine of the class disclosed, a plurality of rotary forms disposed a fixed distance apart, ineans' for moving-said forms bodily, means for rotating said forms one an idle posiby the other form, the axes of-the forms alternately occupying exactly thesame position, and a stapler disposed over the common operat- =ing-position of the forms.

17. In a machine of the class disclosed, a,

- plurality of'rotary forms disposed a fixed distance apart, means for moving said forms and mean; for rotating said forms one at a time,

occupying exactlfthesanie position, sai first mentioned means having an axis of-oscillation which is alvvays'below the forms, and lines drawn from said axes tosaid lowera axis forming'an acute angle. Signed b 14th day 0 Deeember, 1909. I

.- EDWARD CRAIGZ] Witnesses? r r r v D. F.'Sonvmnmox,

W. H. RAY;

me at St. Joseph, this 1 "tion which is never occupied by the other form, the axes of the forms alternatel 

